Shell box for bottle carriers



May 9, 1967 G. v. wooDLlNG Y 3,318,505

v SHELL BOX FR BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed oct. 23, 1955 l/ fw l' (3l 3g 48 l INVENTOR GERGE ll. WOODL/NG LQ BY United States Patent O 3,318,506 SHELL BOX FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS George V. Woedling, 22077 W. Lake Road, Rocky River, Ohio 44116 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 592,952 3 Claims. (Ci. 229-27) The invention -relates to a paper box and more particularly to a shell paper box for bottle carriers.

Beverages such as soft drinks are generally merchandised in bottles which are placed in a paperboard bottle carrier. In delivering the kbottle carriers containing the bottles of beverage from the bottling plant to the retail outlet (supermarkets and the like), the carriers are usually transported in wooden shell boxes. Upon arriving at the store, the delivery man then removes the bottle carriers from the wooden shell boxes and attempts to make a display by vertically and horizontally stacking the bottle carriers. The stacked bottle ycarriers are found to be unstable and do not make a satisfactory display.

`Vith the present invention, the bottle carriers are transported from the lbottling plant to the store in a shell box constructed of a paper blank, preferably corrugated paper. Each 'bottle Icarrier usually carries six bottles with three in a row on each side of the handle. These 'bottle carriers are usually referred to as six-bottle carriers and they may embody a construction such as shownV in my Patents No. 3,151,769 (Bottle Carrier With Reinforced Partitions) and No. 3,152,719 (Bottle Carrier With Reinforced Base). Because of the construction of the reinforced base and the reinforced partiti-ons, I find that a six-bottle carrier embodying these .patents may easily carry quart size bottles without increasing the wall thickness of the paperboard from which the carriers are made. Thus, a quart size, six-bottle carrier embodying my patents is of an economical construction.

A paper shell box of the present invention is preferably constructed to carry two six-bottle carriers for the quart size bottles. In the trade, a quart size bottle may range from 26 ounces to 3,2 ounces, the latter being referred to as a full quart size. For display purposes, a plurality of these shell boxes may be stacked vvertically (about four shells high) and horizontally (about six shells wide), the top horizontal row of shells being emptied rst. As the shells are emptied, row by row, they may be given to customers for use in carrying home their groceries or other items.

The bottle carriers, when mounted in paper shell boxes, stack easily and make an attractive display. Furthermore, the entire stack is stable. At least part of the cost of the paper shell boxes is absorbed by the economical construction of my bottle carriers for quart size bottles, whereby the combined cost is not prohibitive, since there are also other savings to be effected, such as less handling and less bottle breakage.

An object yof the invention is the provision of a paper shell 'box which is strong and which gives protection to the bottles against breakage.

Another object is the provision of a paper shell box having at least two bottle carriers mounted therein, Whereby the ycombined unit may be carried by rgrasping the handles of the bottle carriers.

Another object is the provision of a paper shell box having inwardly turned hingeable end panels which resiliently engage the bottle carriers, whereby when the combined unit is carried by the handles of the bottle carriers, the shell box will not drop olf.

Another object is the provision of a paper shell box having a cross-partition for separating the bottle carriers mounted therein.

Another object is the provision of a paper shell box with reinforced sides.

Another object is the provision of a paper shell box having a one-piece base of uniform thickness, -whereby stacking of the bottle carriers is rendered more stable.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a paper blank from which my shell box may be constructed;

. FIGURE 2 is an end View of the shell box, showing the handle and a bottle carrier mounted therein;

FIGURE 3 is ya side View of the shell box, the ends of the handles for the two bottle mounted therein;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, showing the partition and the two inwardly turned hingeable end panels which resiliently engage the sides of the bottle carriers for keeping the shell box from dropping off when the combined unit is carried by the handles of the bottle carriers;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional View, taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3, showing the reinforced sides of the shell box; and

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic or line drawing of the shell box being made available to help orient the panels in the other views. v

The shell box is preferably constructed of corrugated paper. Because of the rigid construction of the shell box, it may be made of lighter corrugated paper than showing carriers otherwise would be required. The shell box comprises two opposed side walls 10 and 11, two opposed end walls 12 and 13, a base 14, and a cross-partition 15. As illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6, the cross-partition subdivides the box into two subcompartments 16 and 17 with each disposed to receive a bottle carrier. The side wall 10, which lmay be designated as a rst side wall, has a top edge 18 and a bottom edge 19. Similarly, the side wall 11, which may be designated as a second side wall, has a top edge 20 and a bottom edge 21. The end wall 12, which may be designated as a iirst end wall, has a top edge 24 and a bottom edge 25. Similarly, the end wall 13, which may be designated as a second end wall, has a top edge 26 and a bottom edge 27. The base 14 has outer side edges 30 and 31 and outer end edges 32 and 33. The outer side edges 30 and 31 are foldably` connected respectively to the bottom edges 19 and 21 of the side walls 10 and 11. The outer end edges 32 and 33 are foldably connected respectively to the bottom edges 25 and 27 of the end walls 12 and 13. The dot-dash lines in FIGURE l are score lines about which the respective panels are folded. The cross-partition 15 comprises two strips 36 and 37, joined together such as by glue or staples. The lcross-partition 15 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the side walls 10 and 12 and extends therebetween.

The rst side wall 10 comprises a rst side portion 40 disposed between the cross-partition 15 and the first end ange end panels wall 12 and a second side portion 41 disposed between the cross-partition and the second end wall 13. Sirnilarly, the second side wall 11 comprises a third side portion 42 disposed between the cross-partition 15 and the first end wall 12 and a fourth side portion 43 disposed between the cross-partition 15 and the second end wall 13. The subcompartment 16, which may be designated as a first subcompartment, is bounded by'the first and third side portions 40 and 42, the first end wall 12, and the partition 15. Similarly, the subcompartment 17, which may be designated as a second subcompartment, is bounded by the second and fourth side portions 41 and 43, the second end wall 13 and the partition 15.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the first end wall 12 has first and second side flange panels 46 and 47 foldably connected there to. In the assembly of the shell box, the first and second side flange panels 46 and 47 are folded against and secured to the first and third side portions 40 and 42, such Vas by glue or staples. Similarly, as shown in FIGURE l, the second end wall 13 has third and fourth side fiange panels 48 and 49. In assembly of the shell box, the third and fourth side fiange panels 48 and 49 are folded against and secured to the second and fourth side portions 41 and 43, such as by glue or staples. Y

As shown in FIGURE 1, the first side portion has a first down-turned iiange side panel 52 foldably connected to the top edge 18 thereof and adapted to be folded downwardly in a juxtaposed face-contacting relation against the outside surface thereof. Similarly, as shown in FIG- "URES 1 and 5, the third side portion 43 has a second Vdown-turned fiange side'panel 53 foldably connected to the top edge thereof and adapted to be folded downwardly in a juxtaposed face-contacting relation against the outside surface thereof. The down-turned fiange side panels 52 and 53 respectively have first and second ends 54 and 55 which are foldably connected respectively to the Vouter ends of the cross-partition strips 36 and 37; The side walls 10 and 11 respectively have vertically ex- V tending slots 56 and 57 through which the partition strips 36 and 37 extend.

VIn order that the partition strips 36 and 37 may extend through the slots 56 and 57, the side walls k1t) and 11 respectively have first and second foldable side panels 60 and 61 which may, in assembly, be temporarily. folded downwardly to allow swung around into the spaces occupied by the slots 56 and 57, after which the first and second foldable sideV panels 60 and 61 may be restored to their original posi.- tion in the plane of their respective side walls 10 and 11. It is Vto be noted that the first and fourth side fiange panels 46 and 49 are longer than the second andthird side ange panels 47 `and 48, whereby when the first and fourth side ange panels 46 and 49 are secured, such as by glue or staples to the respective side walls 10 and 11, they extend beyond and overlap the slots 56 and 57, see FIGURE 6. By this construction, the first and second foldable side panels 60 and Y61 are resecured to their respective side walls 10 and 11.

A shell box constructed in accordance with the present invention is strong and sturdy. Parts of the first and thirdside portions 40 and 43, in the final assembly, have three panel thicknesses. YThe second and fourth side portions 41 and 42, in the final assembly, have two panel thicknesses. The base 14 is of one continuous piece. The inside surfaces of the shell box are smooth whereby the bottle carriers may be mounted or withdrawn without catching along the inner surfacesof the box. The end walls 12 and 13 are strong and sturdy as they are provided respectively with first and second hingeable 62 and 63 hingeably connected to the topV edge thereof and folded downwardly therefrom in face juxtaposed relation to the inside sufarce thereof (see FIGURE 4). Besides reinforcing the end walls 12 the partition strips 36 and 37 to'beV andV 13, these hingeable flange end panels 62 and 63, since they are not glued or secured to the end walls,'re siliently engage the sides of the bottle carriers. Thus; the combined shell box and the two bottle carriers mounted therein may be carried as a unit by grasping the two handles of the bottle carriers, as the two hingeable fiange end panels 62 and 63 function to keep the shell box from dropping away from the bottle carriers.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in :its prey,

ferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made "only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. What is claimed is:

1. A shell box constructed of a paper blank and comprising at least first and second subcompartments with each disposed to receive a bottle carrier, said Vshell boxV comprising first and second opposed side walls with each having a top edge and a bottom edge and first and. second opposed end walls with each havingV a top edge and a bottom edge, a base having outer side edges foldably connected respectively ,toV the bottom edges of said Y side walls and having outer end edges foldably connected lrespectively to Vthe bottom edges of said end walls, at least a cross-partition disposed substantially perpendicular to said side walls and extending therebetween, said first side wall comprising a first side portion disposed between said partition and said first end wall and a second side portion disposed between said partition and said second Vend wall,k said'second side wall comprising a third side portion disposed between said partition and said'first end wall and a fourth side portionV disposedbetween said partition and said second end wall, said first subcornpartment being bounded by said first and third side portions, said first end wall and said partition, said second sub compartment being bounded by said second and fourth side portions, said second end wall andsaid partition, said first end wall having first and second side fiange panels foldably connected thereto and respectively secured to said first and third side portions, said second end wall having third and fourth side flange panels foldablyy connected thereto and respectively secured to said second and fourth side portions, one of said Vside portions ofY said first side walls having a first down-turned fiange side panel foldably connected to the top edge thereof and juxtaposed in face-contacting relation against a side surface thereof, one of said side portions of said second side Y wall having a second down-turned fiange side panel foldably connected to the top edge thereof and juxtaposedV Y l 1n face-contacting relation against aside surface thereof,

said first and second down-turned Bange side panels respectively having first and second ends, said cross-partition having firstV and second outer ends foldably connected respectively to said first and secondends of said down-turned fiange lside panels. I

2. The structure of claim 1,`V wherein said first and- 'n second end walls each have a hingeable flange end panel hingedly connected to the top edge thereof and folded downwardly therefrom in facejuxtaposed relation to an inside surface thereof for respectively engaging the bottle carriers disposed in said first and second Ysubcompart-V ments to keep the shell box from dropping away from. the bottle carriers when the entire unit is carried by, handles of bottle carriers.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said firstrand second downturned fiange side panels are folded down-y wardly in face-contacting relation to the outside surfaceof the respective side portions to which they are foldably connected and wherein said rst and second side walls each have a slot extending downwardly from the top edge thereof through which the outer ends of said partition extend.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,291 12/ 1948 Wenzel 229-27 XR 2,578,775 12/ 1951 Belsinger 229-27 Belsinger 229-27 Belsinger 229-27 Repking et al. 229-27 Reism'an 229-27 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A SHELL BOX CONSTRUCTED OF A PAPER BLANK AND COMPRISING AT LEAST FIRST AND SECOND SUBCOMPARTMENTS WITH EACH DISPOSED TO RECEIVE A BOTTLE CARRIER, SAID SHELL BOX COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED SIDE WALLS WITH EACH HAVING A TOP EDGE AND A BOTTOM EDGE AND FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS WITH EACH HAVING A TOP EDGE AND A BOTTOM EDGE, A BASE HAVING OUTER SIDE EDGES FOLDABLY CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND HAVING OUTER END EDGES FOLDABLY CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID END WALLS, AT LEAST A CROSS-PARTITION DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SIDE WALLS AND EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID FIRST SIDE WALL COMPRISING A FIRST SIDE PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PARTITION AND SAID FIRST END WALL AND A SECOND SIDE PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PARTITION AND SAID SECOND END WALL, SAID SECOND SIDE WALL COMPRISING A THIRD SIDE PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PARTITION AND SAID FIRST END WALL AND A FOURTH SIDE PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PARTITION AND SAID SECOND END WALL, SAID FIRST SUBCOMPARTMENT BEING BOUNDED BY SAID FIRST AND THIRD SIDE PORTIONS, SAID FIRST END WALL AND SAID PARTITION, SAID SECOND SUBCOMPARTMENT BEING BOUNDED BY SAID SECOND AND FOURTH SIDE PORTIONS, SAID SECOND END WALL AND SAID PARTITION, SAID FIRST END WALL HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SIDE FLANGE PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED THERETO AND RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID FIRST AND THIRD SIDE PORTIONS, SAID SECOND END WALL HAVING THIRD AND FOURTH SIDE FLANGE PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED THERETO AND RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID SECOND AND FOURTH SIDE PORTIONS, ONE OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST SIDE WALLS HAVING A FIRST DOWN-TURNED FLANGE SIDE PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP EDGE THEREOF AND JUXTAPOSED IN FACE-CONTACTING RELATION AGAINST A SIDE SURFACE THEREOF, ONE OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND SIDE WALL HAVING A SECOND DOWN-TURNED FLANGE SIDE PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP EDGE THEREOF AND JUXTAPOSED IN FACE-CONTACTING RELATION AGAINST A SIDE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID FIRST AND SECOND DOWN-TURNED FLANGE SIDE PANELS RESPECTIVELY HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, SAID CROSS-PARTITION HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OUTER ENDS FOLDABLY CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS OF SAID DOWN-TURNED FLANGE SIDE PANELS. 